EFFECT OF ORAL CREATINE SUPPLEMENTATION ON ENDURANCE AND BODY COMPOSITION

Abstract

1. Our purpose was to examine the practical effect of long-term, low-dose
   creatine mono-hydrate supplement on the endurance performance and
   body composition.
2. The examination was conduct among young, healthy, P. E. students of
   college (n = 17) through a double-blind trial, and with the help of a ran-
   domised group-division. One of the groups (CR; n = 9) was obtained
   creatine mono-hydrate supplement (2×3 g/day for 60 days), while the
   other group received placebo (2×3 g maltodextrin/day for 60 days).
3. Before and after the supplement, the subjects perform a type of ‘Vita-
   maxima’ exercise on a running ergometer with increasing intensity,
   lasting till total exhaustion. Before and after the treatment, we detected
   different changes in body composition, blood, urine and performance
   diagnostic parameters.
4. In case of group CR (–6%; p<0,04 ) after the supplement, the running
   ergometer loading time decreased in a significant way, while in case of
   group P, it did not change at all.
   After treatment in group CR, a significant decline was experienced
   in ventilation (–7%; p<0,01), VO2 max (–6%; p<0,02), and max lactate
   (–13%; p<0,04). Examining group CR, we realised a significant in-
   crease in body-mass (+2%; p<0,004), the quantity of total body liquid
   (+4%; p<0,0001), in the extra- (+4%; p<0,001) and intra cellular liquid
   (+4%; p<0,0002). On the other hand, investigating group P, a small de-
   cline could be realised in body-mass (–2%; p<0,01), while there was no
   change in other parameters.
5. In conclusion, we can state that due to the long-term, low-dose creatine-
   monohydrate supplementation the endurance performance decreased.